Low Melatonin Levels Linked to Type 2

Low levels of melatonin—a hormone related to sleep—are linked to type 2 diabetes, according to a study. Researchers examined the connection in a group of 740 women, half of whom had type 2 diabetes. Those who had the lowest melatonin levels had more than twice the risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with women with the highest levels of the hormone. The association persisted after researchers took into account other type 2 risk factors, such as family history and excess weight. The cause of the link is unclear, and the study didn't determine whether melatonin supplements might prevent the disease.Source:The Journal of the American Medical Association, April 3, 2013